System 5: Key 2 Tennis Theory

Tennis is a game in which your playing situation constantly changes. One very important source of change concerns ball characteristics such as speed, spin, depth, height and placement. Another source of change is the location and mobility of both you and your opponent at any given moment during a point.

In order to determine the appropriate tactics and technique for any given situation, you must be able to identify the characteristics of the ball that you are receiving at any given moment during a point.

Most play situations that you will encounter can be identified by five distinct Phases of Play, each of which corresponds to your zone location and the varying degrees of difficulty in the ball you receive.

The best indicator of your ability to handle shots of varying degrees of difficulty is your control rating. At your current level of skill, there are certain ball characteristics that you can handle comfortably, and others that you cannot. If a shot exceeds your control rating (for example, fast with spin), you will regard it as a difficult ball to handle. COnversely, if the ball is weak (for example, little spin and slow), you will regard it as an easy ball to handle. Balls you receive that are comfortable for you to handle will be at your rally speed. With this concept of the control rating and rally speed in mind, we will now define the 5 Phases of Play.

Type of ball Received/Phases of Play

Very Difficult/Defense

Difficult/Counterattack

Neutral/Rally

Easy/Challenge

Very Easy/Attack

Defense: The Defense Phase occurs when you have received a difficult ball. In this phase, for example, you might be under attack and/or find yourself out of position and off balance. Your objective is to make a shot that will allow you enough time to get back into the point. The ability to identify this phase is important for beginner players, as they tend to find themselves in difficult situations more often than intermediate and advanced players.

Counterattack: The Counter Attack Phase occurs when you have received a difficult ball. On this phase, however, you are strictly on the defensive. You may be under attack, but may not neccesarily be out of position or off balance. YOur objective is to reply with an aggressive shot. As good anticipation, footwork and timing are required to mount an effective counterattack, this tactic is most often used by advanced players.

Rally: The Rally Phase occurs when you receive a ball at or near your personal control rating, or your rally speed. In this phase, you are in a neutral exchange until a different phase is initiated either by you or your opponent. You objective is to maintain the rally, without taking risks, until a different phase occurs. Rallying with good placement that affects your opponent's mobility and footwork can also produce a change in the phase of play. This is a situation that all players at every level encounter.

Challenge: The Challenge Phase occurs when you receive an easy ball. In this phase you have the opportunity to challenge your opponent by delivering a difficult ball. Your objective is not necessarily to attempt an outright winner, but rather to pressure your opponent into a defensive situation or a situation in which your opponent will be forced into making a "best shot". This tactic can also result in a weak return by your opponent and set you up for an easy putaway. Players at all levels can challenge their opponents.

Attack: The Attack Phase occurs when you receive a very easy ball. In this phase, you do have the opportunity to hit an outright winner. Your objective is to win the point by hitting a ball that your opponent has almost no chance of returning. Because power and/or placement normally determine the ultimate effectiveness of an attack, advanced players will especially benefit from this phase.

Give him a break, whatever his motivation, he is posting something, here, that will be useful to those who have not seen it before, and that is what this place is all about-- helping others who are seeking to improve their game.

Give him a break, whatever his motivation, he is posting something, here, that will be useful to those who have not seen it before, and that is what this place is all about-- helping others who are seeking to improve their game.

Click to expand...

I just thought it was funny, I'm sure he saw the funny side of it too, he was meant to.

Strange post Bagumbawalla, maybe you are afraid of BB's exposing your innaccuracies and inconsistencies and are trying to cosy up to him?

Actually, I have my differences with BB, I find his bullying tactics deplorable.

I dislike it when he makes fun of inexperienced players and picks on an insignifigant comment and and gets all obsessive-compulsive. In fact, I think the man may have some problems.

But if I am going to be critical of him, I cannot really comdone, those same behaviors in others. I think we all need to get on the same wavelength and make this a better-friendlier place, where we treat each other with respect.

I, believe, in fact, that Mr. Bill has made this place a very unfriendly place for many people. We should all try to be better than he is.

In this case, he was doing something positive. When you find him being a bully and hoging the show-- that is when you should speak up. Have you done that?

Actually, I have my differences with BB, I find his bullying tactics deplorable.

I dislike it when he makes fun of inexperienced players and picks on an insignifigant comment and and gets all obsessive-compulsive. In fact, I think the man may have some problems.

But if I am going to be critical of him, I cannot really comdone, those same behaviors in others. I think we all need to get on the same wavelength and make this a better-friendlier place, where we treat each other with respect.

I, believe, in fact, that Mr. Bill has made this place a very unfriendly place for many people. We should all try to be better than he is.

In this case, he was doing something positive. When you find him being a bully and hoging the show-- that is when you should speak up. Have you done that?

Click to expand...

yes, I have spoken up.

His conduct has improved massively though.I haven't really seen any flaming or trolling at all from him lately.

Arguing with you is not bullying, flaming or trolling Bagumba, it's arguing, once he's said his piece you get the chance to address the forum and to justify your instruction.

One thing I do have in common is that I hate bad instruction, and will point it out whenever I see it.

Actually, I have my differences with BB, I find his bullying tactics deplorable.

Click to expand...

You seem to think that the only flaming comes from me? So even when I ppost good things you cant come around to see the balance?

I dislike it when he makes fun of inexperienced players and picks on an insignifigant comment and and gets all obsessive-compulsive. In fact, I think the man may have some problems.

Click to expand...

Why dont you grow up. I only take a contrarion position if you post bad instruction. Many times it is the other person that starts the flaming. When will you see that. Get over it. flaming will always happen from you, me, and anyone else.

But if I am going to be critical of him, I cannot really comdone, those same behaviors in others. I think we all need to get on the same wavelength and make this a better-friendlier place, where we treat each other with respect.

Click to expand...

I have treated you with respect, what is your problem? Are you mad that I thought your previous tip was written poorly?

Sorry pal, but if you post poor instruction and it is incorrect, people in the know are going to call you on it.

I, believe, in fact, that Mr. Bill has made this place a very unfriendly place for many people. We should all try to be better than he is.

Click to expand...

LOL, sounds like your just a little hurt.

In this case, he was doing something positive. When you find him being a bully and hoging the show-- that is when you should speak up. Have you done that?

Click to expand...

Again, you need to read the posts and learn when the flaming actually starts. It is very easy for someone to get all upset if they are challenged, proven wrong, and or given a rating that they dont like.

You really need to get over yourself. Really. You are blowing things out of perportion. I can show you many threads were it was the opposite person throwing the obsentities, insults, and discrediting. Many!

ok now compare this instruction with oscar wegner' teaching. and how will it work HAND IN HAND with this post.
we all know you don't like him but set aside your ego for a minute and make a comparison. there is no better instruction here but a better "description" so to speak.

Yes, if we all keep alert and remind people like Bill, that the forum is for everyone, and not just their personal playground of the ego-- when they become abusive-- I hope it will remind them what this place is all about-- people helping others.

I agree, that he has improved lately (with minor backsliding), but it is difficult for people with a long history of this kind of behavior to overcome what I see as a kind of personality disorder. People like this want attention/domination and their self control has not evolved much beyond that of a two-year-old child.

if he sets aside his ego with oscar wegner he will be just fine. at some point all of us will have to learn to accept other people for who or what they are, work around it, and make the best of it.
something like a mcgyver or the A team.
why does he have the title "former" by the way? very tacky!!

Yes, if we all keep alert and remind people like Bill, that the forum is for everyone, and not just their personal playground of the ego-- when they become abusive-- I hope it will remind them what this place is all about-- people helping others.

I agree, that he has improved lately (with minor backsliding), but it is difficult for people with a long history of this kind of behavior to overcome what I see as a kind of personality disorder. People like this want attention/domination and their self control has not evolved much beyond that of a two-year-old child.

Click to expand...

Bagumbawalla,

You are wasting your time. If you post something that is incorrect, I will challenge it. PERIOD. IF YOU GET OFFENDED BY IT - TOO BAD.

However, before you start walking down the wrong path with me you best do your homework.

if he sets aside his ego with oscar wegner he will be just fine. at some point all of us will have to learn to accept other people for who or what they are, work around it, and make the best of it.
something like a mcgyver or the A team.
why does he have the title "former" by the way? very tacky!!

Click to expand...

Are you talking to me is this meant for someone else? If you are directing this to me you're not going to get me to change my opinion of Oscar "the Father of tennis".

Maybe you ought to talk to Oscar (father of tennis) and discuss his ego. He aint no Father and he didnt invent the modern forehand or anything else. He is just repackages things and calls it new and his own.

i actually have. and we have a mutual understanding that we will not get into our teachings but will help contribute to the health of US tennis more. it's basically like two religious sects clashing all the time and not getting nowhere. so we leave it at that and focus on the sport we all love and teach.
yes bill, i'm talking to you...LOL

i actually have. and we have a mutual understanding that we will not get into our teachings but will help contribute to the health of US tennis more.

Click to expand...

Well that is good. I tried to talk with him on his modern forehand and showed him a player that used a Western forehand back in the ancient years. He never commented. Then I looked at his method further and said, "wait a second, Braden used to say this or this guy used to teach that, this isn't his", again he had no comment.

However, he proceeded to try to get me to buy into his Christian Science beliefs. lol

it's basically like two religious sects clashing all the time and not getting nowhere. so we leave it at that and focus on the sport we all love and teach.
yes bill, i'm talking to you...LOL

Click to expand...

Good, because I love a good debate. We are not talking about religion. We are talking about someone who thinks he invented something and nobody is buying his story. Then he positions himself by making false claims about what USPTA professional teachers think like and teach. He is challenged by Yandell on the unit turn and will not defend his "little" claims.

He makes exaggerated claims that he "mentored" Guga with his method which never happened. Not even Guga has stepped up to the plate to support this claim.

The main thing this person does is pits his methods above the "USPTA's" method. The USPTA does not teach a method. He is a joke. Period.

I believe that your well-intentioned posts should be treated with the same good manners as anyone else. I just don't see that many of them.

Actually, I don't remember any criticism of my posts, or anything I took as criticism- except for the one where I was not able to see the video clip, which I consider more a help than a criticism- and I thanked you for that.

What I do object to (and I have mentioned this before- so I assume you have a selective memory about this kind of thing) is the way you tend to "stink up the place" by trying to turn this forum (which is for everyone) into the "Mr. Bill show".

And I'm sure that I'm not the first or only person to find fault with you. Your posts are littered with this kind of thing.

You shrug it off as bad humor at being criticized, and I don't think that is exactly the case.

The people that come here want many different things-- information, specific help, confirmation of their strategied, interaction and involvement, the feeling of trying to help others, among others.

If you were to just answer their question as best you can- as clearly as you can, that would be one thing. But instead you may give some vague, poorly thought out answer like, "Aim for the outside of the ball," then procede to pick at or praise every person who also has a suggestion. Mr. Bill, we don't need you, or want you to tell us line by line what you think of what everyone has to say. We are not that interested in you or what you think. Though you sometines have something worthwhile to say, for the most part it is not enough to justify the, overall, negative atmosphere you create and the amoun of space you devote to obsessive trivia or prolonged misunderstandings.

And, seriously, really seriously, I really do think there is something wrong with you- some kind of personality defect, but unless you can see that for yourself, you will never get help.

You are like the bore who wants to dominate a conversation because they think they have all the information we should know, a child who has to poke his finger into every candy- to test each one (but ruin them for the others), the abusive husband who has to have the last word and always be right (having to always be right is a problem in itself- nobody is always right).

I, as many others do, enjoy this forum. I try to be positive (as much as possible) in my answers and step back when others may have answers that I may not completely agree with-- because, I feel confident, that If my answer was well thought out and communicated clearly, it will make enough sense and be accepted (or rejected) on its merits.

The fact that you set yourself up as this "god figure"/"gate keeper" making judjments on all things- indicated to me a real, basic personility failure- and though I may not be able to help you, I will try to discourage that behavior when I see it.

Of course this kind of thing might be more acceptable in the "Rants and Raves" section. But a forum where the novice player and the more advanced seeking improvement, should feel free to come here for advice, that is presented in an atmosphere of positive, friendly helpfulness.

My best suggestion for you is to create your own site where you would have complete control over every aspect. You could ask the questions, answer them, mock yourself, obsess over the use of a word, claim that only your answers are relevant-- in fact what you do here, but somewhere else.

I believe that your well-intentioned posts should be treated with the same good manners as anyone else. I just don't see that many of them.

Click to expand...

Really, well maybe you arent looking too hard. Or maybe you dont want to look that hard.

I really dont need to be defended. So please, you arent doing me any favors. You are just another poster.

Actually, I don't remember any criticism of my posts, or anything I took as criticism- except for the one where I was not able to see the video clip, which I consider more a help than a criticism- and I thanked you for that.

Click to expand...

Yeah, well several posts before that you said, please dont critique my posts. How do you do that? Sorry, if you put up you should be man enough to take a hit.

What I do object to (and I have mentioned this before- so I assume you have a selective memory about this kind of thing) is the way you tend to "stink up the place" by trying to turn this forum (which is for everyone) into the "Mr. Bill show".

Click to expand...

Mr. Bill Show? Isnt that a bit flaming? Have I said anything like that to you? Wow, I guess you dont practice what you are preaching and are full of it.

In your words above aren't you saying some potential flaming things? Are you jealous that I post a lot here? Is that it? Are you upset that I may know somethng about tennis?

There are times a heated debate happens, however, to single out only one person is flat out ridiculous. IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO.